Suns Announce Basketball Operations Promotions

The Phoenix Suns have named Todd Quinter the club’s Director of Player Personnel and promoted Noel Gillespie to Advance Scout, the team announced today.

“Todd has done a terrific job for this organization over the past 22 years, both as an advance scout and as a talent evaluator,” said Suns President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Steve Kerr. “His knowledge of both the NBA and the international game will be critical for us as we look to sustain the success of our franchise.”

Quinter, who begins his 23rd season in the Suns organization, has spent the last 15 seasons as an NBA scout, including the last two campaigns as the club’s assistant coach/director of scouting. Quinter also served as an advance scout for the gold medal-winning USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In his new role with the Suns, Quinter will direct the club’s scouting department and assist Suns Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin in all facets of draft preparation.

Born in Nazareth, Pa., Quinter joined the Suns in 1986 as video coordinator and worked with the Suns’ staff in preparation for the annual NBA Draft, training camp, and the club’s Summer League participation. Additionally, Quinter was the basketball coordinator of the NIKE Desert Classic pre-draft camp from 1996-2000.

Gillespie assumes the role of advance scout, a position most recently held by Quinter. The 30-year-old will aid the coaching staff in their game preparation for upcoming opponents. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Gillespie has been with the Suns organization for six seasons, including the last four as the team’s video scouting coordinator. Gillespie has also assisted Quinter the last two seasons, serving part-time as an advance scout.

“Noel is talented and hardworking, and he has a bright future in the NBA,” Kerr said. “We’re excited to be able to promote him to the position of advance scout, where he will play an integral role in our game-planning throughout the season.”

The Phoenix Suns open their 41st season of play with an exhibition contest on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at US Airways Center, hosting Atlanta at 7 p.m. Phoenix then hosts the first outdoor NBA game of the modern era on Saturday, Oct. 11 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, Calif. in a preseason contest against Denver carried nationally on TNT. The Suns tip-off the regular season at San Antonio on Oct. 29 on ESPN and the club’s 2008 home opener will be the next night, Oct. 30, against New Orleans on TNT.